Floor panel assembly

ABSTRACT

A floor panel assembly includes adjacent floor panels connected together along edges thereof with a locking element extending between the edges. The locking element has a first locking surface; a locking portion at one end; a control portion near another end; and a connecting portion connecting the locking portion to the control portion. The connecting portion is slidably accommodated in a channel of one of the panels and pushed towards a first end of the channel when the locking element is moved or deformed from a first position to a second position by the control portion, the front position being when the panels are disconnected and movable relative to each other and the second position being when the panels are fixedly connected to each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Section 371 National Stage Application ofInternational Application PCT/EP2010/054992 filed Apr. 15, 2010 andpublished as WO/2011/127981 A1 in English.

BACKGROUND

The discussion below is merely provided for general backgroundinformation and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining thescope of the claimed subject matter.

Aspects of the invention relate to a floor panel assembly comprisingsheet-shaped floor panels, which floor panels are provided with edges, alower side and an upper side. The floor panels are intended to be joinedby means of joining members. Particularly, each floor panel is providedon at least a first edge with a first joining member and, on an oppositesecond edge, with a second joining member. The first and second joiningmembers are adapted to be joined by a movement of two panels with theirfirst and second panel edges towards to each other such that in thejoined position the panels meet each other near their upper side along aseam. The first and second joining members locking the panels at theadjacent edges at least in a direction perpendicular to the upper sideand in a direction parallel to the upper side but perpendicular to theadjacent first and second edges in their joined position. The first andsecond joining members are provided with at least one locking elementwhich is deformable and/or movable, during said joining, from a firstposition allowing the first and second joining members to be joined, toa second position in which it locks the first and second joining membersto each other. The locking element is provided on one of the first andsecond joining members and comprises a first locking surface adapted toco-operate with a second locking surface on the other of said first andsecond joining members.

Floor panel assemblies having joining members comprising a deformablelocking element are already known, for example from US 2009/0064624 A1.

SUMMARY

This Summary and the Abstract herein are provided to introduce aselection of concepts in a simplified form that are further describedbelow in the Detailed Description. This Summary and the Abstract are notintended to identify key features or essential features of the claimedsubject matter, nor are they intended to be used as an aid indetermining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subjectmatter is not limited to implementations that solve any or alldisadvantages noted in the Background.

An aspect of the invention is a locking element that has a lockingportion on one end bearing said first locking surface and a controlportion near the other end as well as a connecting portion between them.The connecting portion is slidably accommodated in a channel having twoopen ends, and is pushed at least partly out of a first end of thechannel when the locking element is moved and/or deformed from the firstto the second position by means of the control portion extending from anopposite end of the channel for co-operation with the other of saidfirst and second joining members.

In this manner, the locking element is guided in a reliable manner andhas a control portion on one side of the channel and the locking surfaceon the other. The channel may be formed by a hole, groove, slit or thelike.

The control portion may take the form of a flexible portion of thelocking element extending along a curved guide such that the end of thelocking element is at an angle to the locking portion and has at least acomponent perpendicular to the upper side of the respective panel, butas an alternative it is also possible that the control portion of thelocking element is curved in the first position of the locking elementin which the locking portion of the locking element is inactive and ismoved to a more straight shape in the second position of the lockingelement under control of the relative movement of the panel edges.

In both embodiments, the movement of the panel edges causes the lockingelement to move from the first to the second position thereby bringingthe locking surfaces in engagement with each other.

In the last embodiment, the control portion of the locking element mayinclude at least one and preferably a plurality of pivots allowing thecontrol portion to move between the curved and the more straight shape.This is a good manner to control the deformation of the control portionof the locking element.

An end of the control portion remote from the locking portion maysubstantially be fixed, so that the deformation takes place between theend of the control portion and the channel.

Alternatively, an end of the control portion is movable and is guided bya wall of the joining member during movement of the control portion fromthe curved to the more straight shape. In this way the movement of theend of the control portion will mainly control the movement of thelocking element.

In a further alternative, the control portion of the locking element hasa control surface that is inclined with respect to the direction ofmovement of the locking portion and with respect to the direction ofmovement of the panel edges, such that it can co-operate with a controlsurface of the other of said first and second joining members to movethe locking portion of the locking element from the first to the secondposition. All kinds of other shapes and guiding ways can be used tocause the movement of the locking element.

In a particular embodiment, the first and second joining members areconfigured as a male and female joining member, the locking elementbeing attached to the male joining member, although it is alsoconceivable to attach the locking element to the female joining member.If the edges of the panels are moved with respect to each other in avertical sense, the female joining member will normally be on the loweredge and the male joining member will be on the upper edge.

In a further development, the male joining member is provided with aprotrusion extending away from the upper side of the panel, the channelextending through said protrusion, particularly substantially parallelto the upper side of the respective panel.

The female joining member may then comprise a control portion forcooperation with the control portion of the locking element to move thelocking element when the panel edges move towards each other.

Also, the female joining member may comprise a lip protrudingsubstantially parallel to and from the lower side of the panel at thefirst edge, said lip having a depression to accommodate the protrusionof the male joining member, said depression having an upright projectionnear the free end of the lip forming the control portion of the femalejoining member.

The locking portion of the locking element may extend a part of thelength of the respective panel edge and may be accommodated in a grooveextending preferably along the length of the panel edge, the lockingelement being further provided with a plurality of connection andcontrol portions accommodated in a plurality of channels.

In this manner, the groove can easily be made, for example by grindingthe whole edge of the panel, while the locking portion may be of ashorter length allowing easy engagement of the locking surfaces, also ifthe panel edges are not moved towards each other in a parallel fashion.

It is very convenient if the connecting portion includes a spring-likepart to absorb the movement of the control portion and to transfer it tothe locking portion as soon as the first and second locking surfaces areallowed to engage.

This enables the control portion of the locking element to be actuatedbefore the locking surfaces can enter into engagement with each other.The movement of the panel edges is accumulated as spring energy which isrelease at a desired time. As a result it is not required to allow thelocking surfaces to engage gradually in synchronisation with themovement of the panel edges, although this is also encompassed by theinvention. The locking surfaces may now engage instantaneous underinfluence of the spring force on the locking portion.

Nonetheless, the first and second locking surfaces may be inclined tofacilitate their engagement.

An aspect of the invention also includes a floor panel for use in theabove-described floor panel assembly, as well as a locking element foruse in such floor panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details and advantages of aspects of the invention follow fromthe below description of the invention with reference to the drawingsshowing embodiments of the invention by way of example only.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of panels of a panelassembly in a stage of laying the panels.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view according to the line II-IIin FIG. 1 showing partly two panels with their third and fourth edges onthe long sides of the panels.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show in perspective view a part of two separate paneledges having joining members including a locking element, wherein thelocking element is illustrated in a first position (FIG. 3 a) and in asecond locked position (FIG. 3 b).

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b, 4 c are side views of the panel edges of FIG. 3, inthree different stages of locking the joining members of these paneledges.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are views corresponding to those of FIGS. 3 a, 3 b butshowing a second embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 6 a, 6 b, 6 c are views corresponding to those of FIGS. 4 a, 4 b,4 c but showing the second embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b are views corresponding to those of FIGS. 3 a, 3 b butshowing a third embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 8 a, 8 b, 8 c are views corresponding to those of FIGS. 4 a, 4 b,4 c but showing the third embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 9 a, 9 b, 10 a, 10 b and 11 a, 11 b, respectively, are enlargedperspective views of the separate locking element from the threeembodiments of FIGS. 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8 in their first and secondpositions.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are perspective views from below and above,respectively, showing a variation of the embodiment of the inventionaccording to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are views mainly corresponding to that of FIG. 4 a andshowing variations of the first embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a view corresponding to that of FIG. 12 and

FIGS. 17 a, 17 b and 17 c are views corresponding to those of FIGS. 4a-4 c showing a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The drawings and in first instance FIG. 1 and 2 thereof, show a numberof panels of an embodiment of the panel assembly. In particular, FIG. 1shows a first panel 1, a second panel 2, a third panel 3 and a fourthpanel 4. These panels are substantially rectangular and may both besquare or elongated. The four panels shown are elongated having a firstedge 5 and an opposite second edge 6 that are the short edges, and athird edge 7 and an opposite fourth edge 8 that form the long edges.

In principle the panel assembly is intended to form a floor covering,but the panels may also be used as wall panels, ceiling panels or panelsfor covering other surfaces. These surfaces may be indoor or outdoorsurfaces.

In a particular embodiment, the panels may be constructed as laminatepanels for forming a laminate flooring which is well known in the art.These panels are used to imitate planks or tiles of natural material,such as wood, stone or any other material. Generally these laminatepanels comprise a core of relatively cheap material, in particular awood based material such as material including wood particles or fibressuch as MDF/HDF, a wood plastic composite (WPC), other compositesincluding plastics, or plastics. The core of these panels may be coveredby a decorative layer formed for example from transfer foil or alaminate of paper layers immersed with resin. The decor may also beformed in a different way, for example by printing directly and/ordigitally on the core, or by finishing the core by embossing, chafing orthe like. An upper surface 9 on the upper side of the panels is formedthereby. A lower surface 10 on the lower side of the panels may beformed by another layer, for example a water-proof coating or sheet.However, the invention is also applicable for panels made of wood,plastic or other material with or without separate upper and/or lowerlayers.

The edges 5-8 of each panel 1-4 are provided with joining members tojoin the panels to each other to obtain a floor covering in which thepanels are coupled to each other substantially without the formation ofa gap. For this purpose, the first edge 5 of each panel is provided witha first or male vertical joining member 11, the second edge 6 with asecond or female vertical joining member 12, whereas the third edge 7 isprovided with a first or male horizontal joining member 13 and thefourth edge 8 with a second or female horizontal joining member 14.

The third and fourth edges 7, 8 with the first and second joiningmembers 13, 14 are shown in FIG. 2 and may be configured in a well knownmanner. These joining members 13, 14 are such that they allow a joiningof the third and fourth edges 7, 8 of two panels by bringing the malejoining member 13 in contact with the female joining member 14 of apanel or of two panels which are already installed on the surface. InFIG. 1, panel 1 is brought in engagement with panels 3 and 4. The firstmale joining member 13 is brought in engagement with the second femalejoining member 14 while the panel 1 is held in a relatively inclinedposition, where after panel 1 with the male joining member 13 is rotatedwith respect to the other panels 3 and 4 so as to bring the uppersurfaces 9 of the panels substantially in alignment with each other.This method is also known as the “angling in” joining method. Inprinciple, it would also be possible to angle in a female joining memberonto a male joining member of a panel already installed.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the joining members comprise lockingelement(s) which prevent the panels from drifting apart in a directionparallel to their surfaces 9, 10 and perpendicularly to their edges 7,8. These locking element(s) are configured such that they exert a forceurging the panels towards each other (i.e. perpendicular to their edges)while the panels are in their joined condition. This force counteractsthe formation of gaps between the panels, in particular at the positionnear the upper surface 9 where the panels meet each other. This positionmay be exactly at the upper surface in the situation of FIG. 4, but incase the upper edges of the panels are machined for example to form aV-groove (see FIGS.), U-groove or other lowered area between the panels,the panel edges will meet at a distance from the upper surface 9.

FIG. 2 also shows that the first male joining member 13 includes lockingportion herein a tongue 15, while the second female joining member 14includes a groove 16 which is able to receive at least a portion of thetongue 15 therein so as to lock the panels with respect to each other ina direction perpendicularly to surfaces 9, 10, i.e. in a verticaldirection. The shape of the tongue and groove 15, 16 may have all kindsof configurations and orientations as long as they include surfaces thatrestrict movements in a direction perpendicularly to the surfaces 9, 10.

The horizontal lock of the panels away from each other is accomplishedby means of a lip 17 below the groove 16 projecting from the panel 2 andcarrying near its free edge an upper protrusion 18 engaging into a lowergroove 19 positioned behind the tongue 15 of the panel 3.

It is shown in the drawings that the first joining member 11 of thefirst panel 1 is provided with a separate locking element 20 which isconnected to the first joining member 11, and has sufficient freedom ofmovement to move or deform in order to cooperate with the second joiningmember 11 in order to couple the joining members 11, 12 to each othersuch that it locks the first and second joining members 11, 12 to eachother in both a direction perpendicular to the upper surface 9 and in adirection parallel to the upper surface 9 but perpendicular to theadjacent first and second edges 5, 6 in their joined position. For thispurpose, the locking element 20 is deformable from a first position,allowing first and second joining members 11, 12 to be joined (FIGS. 3 aand 4 a), to a second position in which it locks the first and secondjoining members 11, 12 to each other (FIGS. 3 b and 4 c).

In the embodiment shown, the locking element 20—when viewed in adirection parallel to the respective edge 5—is provided with a lockingportion 33 on one of its ends, a control portion 36 on its other end andwith a connecting portion 35 in between. The locking element 20, and inparticular the locking portion 33 thereof, may extend along the wholelength of the first edge 5, but preferably there are provided aplurality of short locking elements 20 distributed along the length ofthe edge 5, or even only one short locking element 20 substantially inthe middle of the second edge 6. The length and placement of the lockingelement 20 depends on various factors, in particular the length of theedges 5, 6, the material of the panels and the particular use of thepanel assembly. The use of one or more narrow locking elements 20facilitate a connection between two panel edges when the edges are movedtowards each other in a non-parallel orientation, for example, if onepanel is folded down as is disclosed here. Also the locking effect isbetter when there is a high local load because if one locking element isdisengaged due to the high local load, the other locking elements willremain locked and keep the edges together.

The second or female joining member 12 comprises a groove 21 extendingat a distance below the upper side of the panel 2 and parallel to therespective panel edge 6. The panel portion below the groove 21 isextended into a protruding lip 22 including in its upper surface adepression 23 adjacent to groove 21. In the embodiment shown, thedepression 23 has a flat bottom parallel to the edge 6. On its free endthe lip is provided with an upper projection 24 having an upright wall25 bordering the depression 23 and an upper surface 26. On the free endof the lip 22 remains a free space 27 to the first edge 5 of the otherpanel in order to ensure that the seam between vertical wall surfaces28, 29 near the upper surface 9 of the panels 1, 2 can be closed.

The first or male vertical joining member 11 comprises a downwardprotrusion 30 having in this case a substantially flat lower surfaceextending parallel to the first edge 5. The shape and dimension of thisdownward protrusion 30 is such that it will fit into the depression 23of the female joining member 12 when the first and second joiningmembers 11 and 12 are in their coupled condition. The lower surface ofthe protrusion 30 forms the lowest point of the first joining member 11where the distance from the upper surface 9 of the panel is at amaximum. On the lower side of the first edge 5 is a recess 31 which issufficiently large to take up the upward projection 24 on the lip 22 ofthe female joining member 12 and allow it to activate and lock thelocking element 20 at the first joining member 11 in the coupledcondition of the joining members 11, 12.

The protrusion 30 has on its side adjacent the vertical wall surface 28and at a distance from the lower surface of the protrusion 30 a groove32 preferably extending the whole length of the edge 5 and adapted toslidingly accommodate a locking portion 33 of the locking element 20.Furthermore, the protrusion 30 comprises at least one, here two channels34 extending substantially perpendicularly to the groove 32 andconnecting the groove 32 with the recess 31 of the first joining member11. The channels 34, which are here formed as holes with two open ends,are adapted to guide a connecting portion 35 of each locking element 20which can thus transfer a movement of a control portion 36 of thelocking element 20 to the locking portion 33 thereof. The height of thechannel 34 may be greater than that of the groove 32 so that the channel34 also extends in the portion of the protrusion 30 below the groove 32,having there the form of an upwardly open groove.

As is clearly shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 9, the locking portion 33 of thelocking element 20 is here in the form of a tongue 33. The tongue 33 issized to be fully accommodated in the groove 32 in the first joiningmember 11 when it is in its first position, and to engage into thegroove 21 of the second joining member 12 when it is in its second,locking position. For this locking function the tongue 33 is provided onits upper surface with a locking surface 37 co-operating with a lockingsurface 38 at the upper wall of the groove 21 in the second joiningmember 12. The locking surfaces 37 and 38 are inclined with respect tothe upper surface 9 and the vertical wall surface 29. The angle may varywith respect to the upper surface 9 of the panel, but generally thelocking surfaces 37 and 38 will be parallel to each other when engaged.The inclination of the locking surfaces allow them to gradually engagewhen the joining members 11, 12 are being coupled to each other.

The action of the control portion 36 in this embodiment of the lockingelement 20 is based on the principle that the control portion 36 iscurved in the first position of the locking element 20 in which thetongue 33 of the locking element is inactive and is moved to a morestraight shape in the second position of the locking element 20 undercontrol of the relative movement of the panel edges 5, 6. In thisembodiment the control portion 36 has for this purpose two hinges 39 and40 parallel to the first edge 5 of the respective panel 1 and enablingthe control portion 36 of the locking element 20 to deform. The hinge 39is positioned on one end of the control portion adjacent the connectingportion 35, while the hinge 40 is positioned between the hinge 39 andthe free end of the control portion 36. The hinges 39 and 40 are filmhinges formed in one piece with the locking element 20 and may have adiminished thickness with respect to the adjacent portions of thelocking element 20 or may have other characteristics allowing anelastic/plastic deformation of the control portion at the position ofthe hinges 39, 40.

A further feature of the locking element 20 is that the connectingportion 35 includes a spring 41 to absorb the movement of the controlportion 36 and to transfer it to the tongue 33 as soon as the first andsecond locking surfaces 39, 40 are allowed to engage. This will beexplained hereunder.

The operation of the joining members 11, 12 is illustrated withreference to FIGS. 4 a-4 c. The function of the locking element 20 isdescribed with reference to one control and connecting portion 36, 35,but it should be kept in mind that this embodiment has two control andconnecting portions 36, 35, while even a larger number is conceivable.

When panel 1 is in the position according to FIG. 1, edge 5 andtherefore joining member 11 of first panel 1 comes gradually inengagement with edge 6 and joining member 12 of panel 2. In one crosssection, the panels 1, 2 may be in the relative position according toFIG. 4 a. The locking element 20 is in its first position with thetongue 33 of the locking portion within the groove 32 and the controlportion 36 maximally curved. The hinge 40 of the control portion 36 isat a distance from the overlying portion of the first joining member 11,i.e. the top of the recess 31. This enables a deformation of the controlportion 36 of the locking element 20. The upper surface 26 of theprojection 24 on the lip 22 of the second joining member alreadycontacts the control portion 36 at the hinge 40. The edge 5 is (at thiscross section) moved downwardly to such an extent that the tongue 33 ispositioned opposite the vertical surface 29 of the second joining member12 and is thus prevented from moving out of the groove 32.

In FIG. 4 b, the edge 5 is moved further downwardly, such that the uppersurface 26 of the projection 24 on the lip 22 acts as a control portionof the second joining member 12 and has moved the hinge 40 of thecontrol portion 36 of the locking element 20 towards the top of therecess 31. The triangle formed by the hinges 39, 40 and the free end ofthe control portion 36 has become flatter and as a result, the distancebetween the free end of the control portion 36 and the hinge 39 hasbecome larger. Because the free end of the control portion 36 is fixedagainst the upright wall of the recess 31, the hinge 39 has movedtowards the groove 32. Normally the hinge 39 would also have moved thetongue 33 in the same direction, but because the tongue 33 is stillpartly at the level of the vertical surface 29 of the second joiningmember 12, the tongue 33 cannot be displaced further until it engagesthe vertical surface 29. The movement of the hinge 39 is absorbed by theconnecting portion 35 of the locking element which acts as a spring 41which is now loaded by the displacement of the hinge 39.

In FIG. 4 c, the edge 5 of panel 1 has moved into the position in whichthe upper surfaces 9 of both panels 1 and 2 are flush. The tongue 33 hasbeen moved downwardly such that it is aligned with the groove 21 in thesecond joining member 12 and thus it is free to move out of the groove32 in the first joining member 11 and partly into the groove 21 underinfluence of the spring force in the connecting portion 35 of thelocking element 20. The inclination of the locking surfaces 37, 38 causea gradual engagement and also compensates for tolerances, as does thespringing connecting portion 35. In the locked second position of thelocking element 20, the upper surface 26 of the upward projection 24 ofthe second joining member 12 is in engagement with a thickened part 42of the control portion 36, and the control portion 36 is fullystretched, so that the distance between the free end of the controlportion 36 and the hinge 39 is at a maximum. The substantially verticalwall surface of the protrusion 30 of the first joining member 11 and theupright wall 25 of the projection 24 of the second joining member 12 arealso in engagement and prevent a horizontal movement of the panel edges5, 6 away from each other, and the vertical surfaces 28, 29 may be urgedinto engagement with each other to prevent the formation of gaps betweenthe panel edges 5, 6. As is clear, there is a movement substantially inone direction only when the tongue 33 of the locking element 20 movesfrom the first to the second position.

In the second position of the locking element 20, the locking surface 37on the tongue 33 locks the first joining member 11 of the first panel 1in the vertical direction.

This lock will be stronger if more force is needed to disengage thelocking surfaces 37 and 38 again. This can be obtained for example ifthe friction between the locking surfaces 37 and 38 is large and ifthere is any residual spring force in the connecting portion 35 of thelocking element 20. On the other hand, the inclination of the lockingsurfaces 37, 38 may allow the tongue 33 to be pushed back into itsgroove 32 if sufficient vertical force is exerted on the panel edge 5,so that the panels 1, 2 can be disassembled.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 10 show a second embodiment of the floor panel assembly,especially of the control portion 36 of the locking element 20 thereof.The control portion 36 in this second embodiment is shaped such that thefree end of the control portion 36 is at a distance from the top of therecess 31 in the first panel 1 so that this free end may be moved up anddown under influence of the upper surface 26 of the projection 24 on thelip 22 of the second joining member 12. Also in this case the controlportion 36 has a curved shape in the first position of the lockingelement 20, and has a more stretched or flat shape in the secondposition of the locking element. The upright wall of the recess 31 inthe first joining member 11 guides the free end of the control portion36 and forces the hinge 39 to move towards the groove 32. Again theconnecting portion 35 acts as a spring urging the tongue 33 into thegroove 21 when it arrives at the level of the groove 21 such that thelocking surfaces 37, 38 may engage.

In the third embodiment of FIGS. 7, 8 and 11, the control portion 36 hasanother configuration such that it has a flexible portion 44 extendingalong a curved guide 44 in the recess 31 so that the free end of thecontrol portion 36 is at an angle to the tongue 33 and groove 32 and hasat least a component perpendicular to the upper surface 9 of therespective panel, and in this embodiment is perpendicular to the uppersurface 9. A lowered portion 45 of the upper surface 26 of theprojection 24 of the second joining member 12 can come into engagementwith the free end of the control portion 36 and can move it upwardlywith respect to the first panel 1. As a result, the curved guide 44 ofthe first joining member 11 transfers the vertical movement of the freeend of the control portion 36 into a horizontal movement of the oppositeend of the control portion adjacent to the connecting portion 35. Thishorizontal movement or movement parallel to the upper surface 9 of thepanel 1 moves the tongue 33 directly or through the spring action of theconnecting portion 35 into the groove 21 of the second joining member12.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein howeverthe channel 34 is not formed as a hole through the protrusion 30, but asa groove, which is open to the lower side of the panel 1. Generally,such groove is easier to manufacture than a hole. Because the tongue 33is sufficiently firmly held in the groove 32, the channel 34 does nothave to have a holding function. The operation of this embodiment is thesame as that of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are two variations of the embodiment of FIG. 4 in whichthe wall 25 defining the depression 23 on the distal side andco-operating with the downward depression 30 of the mail joining member11 is formed differently. This is done to enable a disconnection of thejoining members 11 and 12 of the panels 1 and 2 by angling the panel 1upwardly. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 a disconnection is only possibleby sliding panels 1 and 2 relatively along their edges 5, 6. The angleof the wall 25 and the corresponding wall on the protrusion 30 is forexample between 50 and 60 degrees, here ca. 57 degrees. In the variationof FIG. 15, a small upper portion 25 a of the wall is at an angle ofsubstantially 90 degrees, here ca. 88 degrees to effect a slightresistance against angling out of the male joining member 11. Theco-operating wall of the downward protrusion 30 of the male joiningmember has a corresponding shape. Of course this disconnection featurecould be combined with all embodiments.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention. Inthis embodiment, the control portion 36 of the locking element 20 has acontrol surface 46 that is inclined with respect to the direction ofmovement of the tongue 33 and with respect to the direction of movementof the panel edges 5, 6 during joining, such that it can co-operate withan also inclined control surface 47 of the female joining member 12 (inthis case it is formed by a part of the upright wall 25) to move thetongue 33 of the locking element 20 from the first to the secondposition. Again the spring 41 of the connecting portion 35 takes up thedisplacement before it is transferred to the tongue 33 as soon as it hasarrived in front of the groove 21. Of course it would be sufficient ifonly one of the surfaces 46, 47 is inclined to be able to move thetongue 33.

It is noted that aspects of the various embodiments as shown anddescribed may be used in different combinations. The invention is notlimited to the embodiments shown in the drawing and described above,which may be varied in different ways within the scope of the invention.For example, it would be possible to provide the locking element in thesecond or female joining member. This would be more or less the upsidedown version of the embodiments shown in the drawings. The lockingelement may also be substantially rigid, while other parts of the panelsmay be deformable or the locking element and the joining members mayhave a shape allowing a gradual movement of the locking element. Forexample an upper entry wall of the groove on the other panel receivingthe tongue may be inclined to directly take up the tongue as soon as itis moved by the control portion. Furthermore, it is conceivable to usethe invention with panels that have vertical joining members on all foursides and that can thus be laid by moving the panels vertically withrespect to one, two or more panels already installed. Although thelocking element has been described before as an element that is separatefrom the panels, it could be integrated in one of the panels, especiallyif the panels are made from plastic material. It is also possible thateach of the first and second joining members has its own locking elementco-operating with the other one. The tongue of the locking elements maybe more or less pin shaped such that the tongue and the control elementhave substantially the same width and thus each tongue has only a singlecontrol element. The panels may have a different configuration thansubstantially rectangular, in particular triangular or hexagonal. Thepanel edges should be configured such that adjacent panel edges havematching joining member.

1. A floor panel assembly comprising: sheet-shaped floor panels having,a lower side and an upper side, each floor panel being provided on atleast a first edge with a first joining member and, on a second edge,with a second joining member, the first and second joining members oftwo adjacent panels configured to be joined by a movement of the twoadjacent panels with their first and second edges towards each othersuch that in a joined position the two adjacent panels meet each othernear their upper side along a seam, the first and second joining memberslocking the two adjacent panels at adjacent first and second edges atleast in a direction perpendicular to the upper side and in a directionparallel to the upper side but perpendicular to the adjacent first andsecond edges in their joined position; and at least one locking elementwhich is provided on one of the first and second joining members andcomprises a first locking surface co-operating with a second lockingsurface on the other of said first and second joining members, whereinthe locking surface of the locking element is from a first positionallowing the first and second joining members to be joined, to a secondposition in which the locking surface locks the first and second joiningmembers to each other, said locking element having a locking portion onone end bearing said first locking surface and a control portion near asecond end as well as a connecting portion between the locking portionand the control portion, said connecting portion being slidablyaccommodated in a channel and is pushed towards a first end of thechannel when the locking surface is moved from the first to the secondposition by a movement of the control portion extending from an oppositeend of the channel for co-operation with the other of said first andsecond joining members.
 2. The floor panel assembly of claim 1, whereinthe control portion is a flexible portion of the locking element, whichis deformable and extends along a curved guide such that the second endof the locking element is at an angle to the locking portion and has atleast a component perpendicular to the upper side of the respectivepanel.
 3. The floor panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said controlportion of the locking element is curved in the first position of thelocking element in which the locking portion of the locking element isinactive and is deformed to a more straight shape in the second positionof the locking element under control of relative movement of the paneledges.
 4. The floor panel assembly of claim 3, wherein the controlportion of the locking element includes at least one pivot allowing thecontrol portion to deform between the curved to the more straight shape.5. The floor panel assembly of claim 3, wherein an end of the controlportion remote from the locking portion is substantially fixed.
 6. Thefloor panel assembly of claim 3, wherein an end of the control portionis movable and is guided by a wall of said one of first and secondjoining members during deformation of the control portion from thecurved to the more straight shape.
 7. The floor panel assembly of claim1, wherein the control portion of the locking element has a controlsurface, such that the control surface of the locking elementco-operates with a control surface of the other of said first and secondjoining members, at least one of the control surfaces being—inclinedwith respect to a direction of movement of the locking portion and withrespect to a direction of movement of the panel edges to move thelocking portion and the locking surface of the locking element from thefirst to the second position.
 8. The floor panel assembly of —claim 1,wherein the first and second joining members are configured as a maleand female joining member, the locking element being connected to themale joining member.
 9. The floor panel assembly of claim 8, wherein themale joining member is provided with a protrusion extending away fromthe upper side of the panel, the channel extending through saidprotrusion.
 10. The floor panel assembly of claim 8, wherein the femalejoining member comprises a control portion for cooperation with thecontrol portion of the locking element to move the locking element whenthe panel edges move towards each other.
 11. The floor panel assembly ofclaim 10, wherein the female joining member comprises a lip protrudingsubstantially parallel to and from the lower side of the panel at thefirst edge, said lip having a depression to accommodate the protrusionof the male joining member, said depression having an upright projectionnear a free end of the lip forming the control portion of the femalejoining member.
 12. The floor panel assembly of claim 1 wherein thelocking portion of the locking element extends at least along a part ofa length of the respective panel edge and is accommodated in a grooveextending along the length of the panel edge, the locking element havinga plurality of connecting portions connected to the locking portion,each connecting portion disposed in a channel, the locking elementfurther having a control portion connected to each connecting portionopposite the locking portion.
 13. The floor panel assembly of claim 1,wherein the connecting portion of the locking element includes a springto absorb the movement of the control portion and to cause movement ofthe locking portion when the first and second locking surfaces areallowed to engage.
 14. The floor panel assembly of claim 1, wherein thefirst and second locking surfaces are inclined with respect to the uppersurfaces of the adjacent panels when connected.
 15. (canceled) 16.(canceled)
 17. The floor panel assembly of claim 3, wherein the controlportion of the locking element includes a plurality of pivots allowingthe control portion to move between the curved to the more straightshape.
 18. The floor panel assembly of claim 8, wherein the male joiningmember is provided with a protrusion extending away from the upper sideof the panel, the channel extending through said protrusion andsubstantially parallel to the upper side of the respective panel. 19.The floor panel assembly of claim 7, wherein the control surface of atleast the locking element is inclined with respect to a direction ofmovement of the locking portion.
 20. The floor panel assembly of claim19, wherein the control surface of the other of said first and secondjoining members is inclined with respect to a direction of movement ofthe locking portion.
 21. The floor panel assembly of claim 1, whereinthe locking portion of the locking element is a tongue slidinglyaccommodated in a groove extending parallel to the respective edge, thechannel having a height greater than that of the groove.
 22. The floorpanel assembly of claim 21, wherein the channel is a slit opening to thelower side of the panel.
 23. The floor panel assembly of claim 1,wherein the other of said first and second joining members comprises acontrol portion for cooperation with the control portion of the lockingelement to move the locking element when the panel edges move towardseach other.
 24. A locking element for connecting adjacent panels, thelocking element comprising: a locking portion forming a first end; aconnecting portion connected to the locking portion; and a controlportion connected to the connecting portion opposite the locking portionforming a second end, the connecting portion being configured as aspring such that when the control portion is moved relative to thelocking portion, or deformed, the connecting portion is first absorbingthe movement of the control portion by being shortened and is thenpushing away the locking portion towards the first end so that a lengthof the connecting portion is lengthened again.
 25. A floor panelconfigured to be fixed to a second floor panel along edges thereof, thefloor panel comprising: a lower side; an upper side; first joiningmember on a first edge; a second joining member on a second edge, thefirst and second joining members being complimentary configured suchthat when two adjacent panels are joined by a movement of the twoadjacent panels with their first and second edges towards each other thetwo adjacent panels meet each other near their upper side along a seamin a joined position, the first and second joining members beingconfigured so as to lock the two adjacent panels at adjacent first andsecond edges at least in a direction perpendicular to the upper side andin a direction parallel to the upper side but perpendicular to theadjacent first and second edges in the joined position, wherein thefirst joining member includes a channel extending from the first edge toa recess opening to a lower surface of the panel, the recess having anupper recess surface facing in a direction of the lower side and an endrecess surface facing in a direction of the first edge; and wherein thesecond joining member includes a projection configured to extend intothe recess when the adjacent panels are in the joined position.